Ashley Boulais

Intrigued by the thought of a good murder mystery in an abandoned penitentiary, I had high hopes for this book. I am sorely disappointed.  From the beginning I found it confusing with the introduction of too many characters in the first few pages.  The story constantly changes perspectives and it was hard to follow.  As I read on it became blatantly clear that the author has an agenda.  Two of the characters are transgender, and too much of the story focused on that rather than the murder mystery.  It is bogged down with too many references and details that fail to move the plot forward.  When I found out who was behind the murder half way through the book, I was tempted to stop reading.  The only thing that kept me going was writing this review.  With too many characters, too many mundane references and details, a hard -to- follow narrative, lots of foul language and an obvious agenda, I will not be recommending this book to anyone. I recei...

Book two of the new year:  Oikonomics by Mike Breen and Ben Sternke This book is all about being a family on a mission, using the resources we have to live holistically fulfilled lives as Jesus intended. Using an economic vocabulary, Breen and Sterke order five areas of "capital" in which we can invest:  spiritual, relational, physical, intellectual, financial.  (In that order)  It's about how we invest our time, energy,  and money to be better disciples of Christ. It's full of examples from Scripture. Each story is eye opening as to how fundamental these capitals are as disciples, and how fruitful we will be for the Kingdom depending on how we use them. At the end of the book there is space for the reader to assess his capital resources and how to invest and exchange to grow them.  This was really helpful to my husband and me to assess where we are and how we can grow to be more fruitful. I HIGHLY recommend this book.  It's short, enlighte...

This is one of those books that you're going to want on your coffee table.   Part self -help, part cook book, and part photography compilation,  this book is sure to be a conversation starter.  The pictures inside are cultured and simple, but warm and inviting.  The recipes are equally so.  The author of this book, Anna Brones, grew up with Swedish parents, so she understands the positives and negatives of Lagom and offers a well balanced perspective.  To live lagom in work, home,  health,  and your environment is to live sustainably in moderation.  "Just enough." I thought that the chapter on work would be irrelevant to me as a stay-at-home-mama.  Instead, I found the contrast of cultural understandings of time and efficiency to be so fascinating! I recommend purusing this book. Appealing to the eye, educational, and very practical, it is worth the read. I received my copy free from Bloggingforbooks.com in exchange for writi...

□  Make progress on the boys ' baby books,  including printing pictures □  Send every immediate family member a birthday card on time □  Take the older boys camping □  Do a 10k (Walk/Jog) □  Go the whole year without biting my nails □  Start a non-hobby blog with 50 page views a month □  Read 24 books □  Minimize my wardrobe, 50 pieces or less □  Fly kites with the boys □  Get a massage □  Pay off one student loan □  Buy my Under Armour shoes □  Get Family Pictures Taken □  Be in Brandy's wedding □  Write in my journal weekly □  Take a daily vitamin □  Start my Greek Workbook □  Get my bike serviced at Scheels so I can ride it this summer

Vulnerable, raw,  and poetic.  This book is better than a devotional.  Each story compels the reader to rest at Jesus ' feet.  It addresses the lonely, dark nights when God hasn't answered our prayers the way we hoped; the way we thought best.  What then?  We thrash against God and pound our fists on the floor... and so does Katie.  With fourteen kids, a husband, and a thriving ministry in a land marked by poverty, Katie knows the weariness we each feel at some point.  This is her story.  And Simon's story.  And Betty's story.  And Mack's story. It's all of our stories as we dare to hope in God's goodness during times of loss and raw pain. I HIGHLY recommend this book, and while you're at it, read Kisses from Katie too.  You won't be sorry.

Author Adriana Mather shows a deep understanding and a plethora of knowledge about the Titanic and the passengers aboard.  Her story is a unique and creative blend between history and magic. Unfortunately, that is about as much as I enjoyed about the book.  Though not technically a sequel (I think), there is a lot of background information left out or mentioned without details.  The story is filled with teenage angst and drama and I found the characters to be underdeveloped, unrelatable, and even unlikable at times.  The love relationship between the main character, Sam, and a ghost is downright weird, and she even throws in a lesbian relationship for the sake of it,  even though it does nothing to move the plot along.  The book is too long and predictable.  If you're considering reading this book,  I say skip it. I received my copy free from Bloggingforbooks.com in exchange for my honest review.

In 2006 I was a Sophomore in college when the unthinkable happened.  A van full of students from my university was hit by a  semi and two of the victims were misidentified.  One alive, one deceased.  Mark Tabb tells the riveting story of forgiveness then in "Mistaken Identity:, and he does it again in his book,  "Convicted." This book takes place in Benton Harbor,  Michigan, a small community permeated by drugs, poverty, and crime.  It is told from two perspectives - a crooked cop wanting to get drug dealers off the streets at the cost of his integrity, and the wrongfully accused Jameel.  Each tells his side, the events leading up to the arrest and all the turmoil faced after.  Both encounter Jesus, and by a miraculous turn of events,  develop a friendship based on forgiveness. At times the book is redundant, but otherwise it is a convicting and sobering account of racial injustice and a broken system.  It challenged me to add...